Teacher in jail for ‘hurting religious sentiment’

Police yesterday arrested the headteacher of a high school in Kushtia's Kumarkhali upazila for allegedly making defamatory comments on religion.

Md Abu Saleh, 50, headmaster of Kaya Child Heaven Girls' School, was picked up from Kaya village.

According to police, Saleh on Monday made the comments in front of a student's guardian, who later told her family and neighbours about it.

As the word spread, people from different areas gathered at the Kaya Baitul Mamun Jame Masjid on Tuesday morning to protest and demand the teacher's punishment.

Police went to the spot and assured the headmaster of his safety. However, one Enamul Haque then filed a case against Abu Saleh with Kumarkhali Police Station on charges of hurting religious sentiments.

A relative of Abu Saleh, seeking anonymity, said fundamentalists in the area have been conspiring against him and this was the result.

Mohsin Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kumarkhali Police Station, said Saleh was produced before a judicial magistrate's court, which later sent him to jail.